Dallas County prosecutors have dropped a murder charge against the wife of Lisa Dykes.
Lisa Dykes is standing trial for stabbing to death 23-year-old Seattle tourist Marisela Botello Valadez in her Mesquite home on October 5, 2020.
Prosecutors say Dykes was in a three-way relationship with her wife, Nina Marano, and a man named Chuck Beltran. All three had been charged with murder in the death of Valadez.
Late Friday, court records say the murder case against Marano was dismissed. No reason was given.
Friday, Beltran testified had met Valadez hours earlier in Deep Ellum, had gone back to Dykes' home, and had intercourse. They were both asleep when Beltran said he was jolted awake. He said Dykes was stabbing Valadez as she screamed. Beltran said he pushed Dykes off Valadez, but by that time Valadez was dead.
He testified Dykes had stabbed Valadez because Beltran had been warned not to bring women into their home.
All three had been arrested, but Dykes and Marano bonded out of jail. Prosecutors say the two women skipped bond and fled to Cambodia, where they were tracked down, arrested, and returned to the US to face trial.
Dykes attorney says she will testify in her murder trial, most likely Tuesday.
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